UPDATED: Fire Sweeps Through Exeter — 700 Acres, McKee Says Fire 80% Contained
Saturday, April 15, 2023
A fire is sweeping through Exeter and more than 700 acres have been consumed, according to Governor Dan McKee’s office.
McKee announced that the fire was being contained.
"We have received word from teams on the ground that the Exeter fire is 80 percent contained and as of 8 p.m. all evacuation orders have been lifted.
Up to 200 firefighters were involved in today's operations," said McKee's office.
The fire is 3-4 times the size of the West Greenwich fire on Wednesday/Thursday of this week.
The Rhode Island State Police are going door to door to notify residents.
All firefighting assets are being utilized, including RI National Guard helicopters dropping water.
As of 5:30 p.m., there were approximately 20 people at the shelter at the Exeter Public Library. With the library closing at 6 p.m., the shelter will relocate to Exeter-West Greenwich High School, located at 930 Nooseneck Hill Road in West Greenwich. Thank you to the team at the American Red Cross of Rhode Island for managing the shelter, moving quickly, and ensuring smooth operations on site.
The shelter has snacks and water. Those going to a shelter are reminded to bring medication if needed. Pets are welcome, but those going are asked to bring crates, cages, leashes, and food for their pets.
Thank you to the @RINationalGuard for their assistance in putting out the Exeter fire today. https://t.co/f0pGvI7JIz
— Rhode Island EMA (@RhodeIslandEMA) April 15, 2023
The Governor appreciates and thanks the leadership of the incident commander, the Exeter Fire Department, and all those responding at the scene.
According to the URI Forestry Almanac, the most extensive fires in state history occurred in 1930 (34,700 acres in western RI) and 1942 (24,500 acres).
In addition, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is securing the evacuation of farm animals by working with the Washington County Fairgrounds and several local farmers to ensure animal safety. The fairgrounds have been opened to receive animals, DEM and a local farmer are ready to do any large animal transport, and several Exeter farmers also are taking in large animals.
Rhode Island Famous Fires of 1942
New England Historical Society wrote about a great fire in Rhode Island in 1942. It was set by an arsonist and led to Governor Howard McGrath declaring Marshall Law.
On May 1, 1942, fire leveled more than 300 acres in the Limerock section of Lincoln, R.I. The source of ignition was at first thought to be ashes from a wood chopper’s pipe. The fire – the first of the 1942 Rhode Island forest fires — destroyed a cord of wood, damaged a garage and threatened three homes.
On the same day, 250 acres burned in Johnston on the Rohrig Estate. It took 60 firefighters to save a Scout camp and a farm from the blaze.
Again on the same day, firefighters fought a 350-acre forest fire at White Rock just northwest of Westerly. Only a wind change saved a number of houses in the fire’s path, something State Fire Service workers and 80 men from three towns couldn’t accomplish. READ MORE
